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15-05-2017, 02:55 PM
Blockbuster ‘WannaCry’ Malware Could Just Be Getting Started: Experts
by ALEX JOHNSON
The estimated 200,000 computers crippled worldwide by last week's mammoth ransomware attack could be only the tip of the iceberg, security experts said Sunday.
The apparently random attack, called "WannaCry", hit on Friday and spread like wildfire before a British malware researcher identified as Marcus Hutchins was able to halt it temporarily a day later, when workers in many companies weren't in their offices.
That means an untold number of other infected systems could still be waiting to be discovered when people return to work on Monday and fire up their computers.
And there's worse news: At least two new variations of the malware have already been detected.
The malware spreads as a worm — scanning other computers linked to any machine or system it infects for the same defect and leaping onto them — through a vulnerability in Microsoft systems, particularly on outdated software like Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.
The malware includes an encryption package that automatically downloads itself to infected computers, locking up nearly all of the machines' files and demanding payment of $300 to $600 for a key to unlock them.
More details in http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bloc...ts-n759356
by ALEX JOHNSON
The estimated 200,000 computers crippled worldwide by last week's mammoth ransomware attack could be only the tip of the iceberg, security experts said Sunday.
The apparently random attack, called "WannaCry", hit on Friday and spread like wildfire before a British malware researcher identified as Marcus Hutchins was able to halt it temporarily a day later, when workers in many companies weren't in their offices.
That means an untold number of other infected systems could still be waiting to be discovered when people return to work on Monday and fire up their computers.
And there's worse news: At least two new variations of the malware have already been detected.
The malware spreads as a worm — scanning other computers linked to any machine or system it infects for the same defect and leaping onto them — through a vulnerability in Microsoft systems, particularly on outdated software like Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.
The malware includes an encryption package that automatically downloads itself to infected computers, locking up nearly all of the machines' files and demanding payment of $300 to $600 for a key to unlock them.
More details in http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bloc...ts-n759356
Specuvestor: Asset - Business - Structure.
